Vernon To Host 3rd 'Miracle Field' In Connecticut

VERNON, CT — A regional field for special needs athletes east of the Connecticut River has found a new home in Vernon. It would be the third in Connecticut.

Sources close to the project leaked the information out about a month ago as efforts to put the "Miracle Field" at Cross Farms in Tolland broke down. So on Tuesday, municipal and education officials in Vernon and the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut officially announced what they termed "a unique partnership" to provide a "state-of-the-art athletic facility" at Northeast School.

Reasons cited included level land that currently serves as a field and Northeast School's location just off Route 30 and just east of Route 31 near the Exit 67 Interstate 84 interchange.

The Vernon Town Council unanimously supported and authorized local officials to enter into an agreement with the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut at its June 21 meeting and a contract was signed Tuesday.

Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne said the town was glad to jump aboard because "we have good athletes in the program who need a place to play."

Champagne added, "When Miracle League leaders approached us about being home to a fully accessible athletic field to provide athletic opportunities for children with disabilities, we were immediately interested. With our trail network, athletic fields, parks, ponds and lakes, Vernon is a recreational destination for so many. Adding a field designed specifically so that people with disabilities can join with others to enjoy the outdoors is something we fully embrace. This field is going to be a regional asset and a wonderful place for so many people."

Tolland officials announced that the field was not feasible in late May.

The announcement said, "We are sad to report that the Miracle League of Northern CT will locate their field outside of Tolland. Efforts were made by all parties, including intense discussions, stakeholder meetings, an engineering study, a commitment from the town on a location, the approval of up to $200,000 in ARPA funds pending an agreement being reached, and Miracle League fundraising more than $200,000. Despite these efforts, we could not reach an agreement amenable to all parties involved. The agreement would have required protections for the Miracle League, the town, and the Board of Education. These requirements were very costly and it’s in the best interest of all to use an alternate location."

Steven Leibowitz of the Miracle League said the $200,000-plus raised represents about a third of the price tag for the field. Fund-raising efforts are ongoing through donations and grants, he said.

Leibowitz is a local accountant and business owner who has coached in the Little League Challenger Division. He also serves as president of the Miracle League of Northern Connecticut. He said the Miracle League Field in Vernon will have a rubberized, synthetic "short turf" surface that is fully accessible to athletes who use wheelchairs or have other mobility issues.

"We’re excited to bring this field to Vernon and were extremely pleased that Mayor Champagne and his team so readily embraced it,” Leibowitz said. “This field is all about letting kids be kids and have a great time playing baseball."

The field would be configured on a baseball diamond with 45-foot base paths with enough room for a rectangular field to accommodate sports like lacrosse and soccer.

In addition to the specially designed turf surface, Miracle League fields have wheelchair-accessible dugouts, and are completely flat and barrier free so that children with visual disabilities can participate, he said. Each player has a "buddy" who assists her or him during play.

There are about 300 Miracle Fields across the U.S. and two others in Connecticut — in West Hartford near the Asylum-Trout Brook intersection and and at Flanders School in East Lyme.

"Vernon Public Schools are committed to helping all students be successful in life and one of the ways we do
that is by building partnerships with our community," Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said. "Creating this opportunity for children to experience the joy of sports fits right into our mission and we are delighted to be able to join with the Miracle Field team to bring this project to Vernon."

]The Vernon Board of Education approved the contract with Miracle League of Northern Connecticut at its meeting Monday evening.

"Children and families from all over Connecticut are going to visit Vernon to play at the Miracle Field," Vernon Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said. "Those families will get to know what many of us already know – that Vernon is a welcoming community and a great place to live, work and play."

Champagne said the field will become "part of Northeast School" with availability to locals when not in use by the Miracle league. The field will be located near the current backstop closest to Route 30.